How to Support LGBTQ Youth

The word "ally" is a powerful one. It means someone who has your back and is on your side, because they know it's the right thing to do. In the LGBTQ movement, an "ally" describes someone who may not be LGBTQ themselves, but who are committed to equality and who speak out against discrimination.

Allies can be anyone:

a straight classmate who sticks by a friend questioning his gender identity;

a teacher who serves as an advisor for a gay-straight alliance (GSA);

parents who find ways to promote respect for diversity in their child’s school;

a counselor who is committed to making sure that LGBTQ issues are heard.

By taking steps to visibly support LGBTQ youth and their rights, allies can play a critical role in stopping and even preventing harassment and discrimination against LGBTQ youth, ensuring that schools and out-of-home care settings are safe for everybody.

While it is sometimes safer for straight allies to take a stand for LGBT rights, being an ally does not come without its own challenges. Allies too can experience harassment or discrimination.